About Édouard Vuillard

In the course of his long career, Édouard Vuillard produced hundreds of paintings depicting life in Paris through impressions of people in landscapes or interiors. He considered French society the primary subject in his works, rather than the individuals, and famously said: “I don’t do portraits. I paint people in their surroundings.” Vuillard, who was involved in experimental theater, was well known for producing large-scale works and murals. Some of his most famous works were made early in his career during his involvement with Les Nabis (named after the Hebrew and Arabic term for “prophets”), an avant-garde group deeply influenced by the work of Paul Gauguin. His peers in the group included Pierre Bonnard and Maurice Denis. Vuillard’s own style was distinctive for its use of simplified forms, planes of color, and decorative or ornamental elements.